Arizona Wildcats Earn First Final Four Appearance in 25 Years

Dominant second-half performance propels Arizona past Purdue to reach NCAA Tournament's Final Four

Mar. 29, 2026 at 10:31am

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A cubist, geometric painting in shades of Arizona red and blue, capturing the dynamic energy and multi-faceted action of the Wildcats' Elite Eight victory over Purdue.Arizona's return to the Final Four after 25 years is a triumph of perseverance and team chemistry, as the Wildcats overcame a halftime deficit to dominate Purdue in the second half.San Jose Today

The Arizona Wildcats punched their ticket to the Final Four for the first time in 25 years, defeating the Purdue Boilermakers 79-64 in the Elite Eight. Arizona overcame a halftime deficit with a dominant second-half performance, outscoring Purdue 48-26 over the final 20 minutes. Freshman Koa Peat led the Wildcats with 20 points and 7 rebounds, while Ivan Kharchenkov and Brayden Burries also made key contributions. Arizona's victory ends a long drought and exorcises demons from past tournament disappointments.

Why it matters

Arizona's return to the Final Four is a major milestone for the program, which had not reached this stage of the NCAA Tournament since 1997. The Wildcats' success this season has captivated their passionate fanbase, who have endured a quarter-century wait to see their team compete for a national championship again.

The details

After trailing 38-31 at halftime, Arizona stormed back in the second half, opening the period on a 16-3 run to take the lead. The Wildcats continued to pull away, with Peat, Kharchenkov, and Burries leading the charge. Arizona shot 51.6% from the field in the second half, while holding Purdue to just 3-of-13 shooting to start the half. The victory avenges past tournament disappointments for the Wildcats, including a collapse against Illinois and tough losses to Wisconsin.

  • Arizona trailed Purdue 38-31 at halftime.
  • The Wildcats opened the second half on a 16-3 run to take the lead.
  • Arizona outscored Purdue 48-26 in the second half to pull away.

The players

Koa Peat

A freshman forward who led Arizona with 20 points and 7 rebounds, matching Purdue's physicality around the basket.

Ivan Kharchenkov

A freshman teammate of Peat who finished with 18 points and 8 rebounds, showcasing his mettle alongside Peat.

Brayden Burries

Another freshman who scored 11 of his 14 points in the second half to help Arizona pull away.

Jaden Bradley

Contributed 10 of his 14 points in the second half to fuel Arizona's strong shooting performance.

Braden Smith

Purdue's point guard who dictated the flow of the game in the first half with 11 points, but was held scoreless in the second half.

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What they’re saying

“What I'm most happy for are these Arizona fans. You guys deserve this. There's a good-looking guy with white hair (Lute Olson) looking down on us who's happy.”

— Tommy Lloyd, Arizona Head Coach

What’s next

Arizona will play the winner of Sunday's Elite 8 game between Tennessee and Michigan in the Final Four next Saturday in Indianapolis, the site of the Wildcats' 1997 national championship.

The takeaway

Arizona's return to the Final Four for the first time in 25 years is a triumphant moment for the program and its passionate fanbase, who have endured a long drought since the team's last appearance in the national semifinals. The Wildcats' dominant second-half performance against Purdue showcases the team's depth and resilience, setting the stage for a potential championship run.